Are you Taking Care or Casting Cares

Have you ever been waiting for and expecting something and your life feels like all sixes and sevens. You feel nervous and "antsy". If it's something you are looking forward to you face the day with anticipation.  If it is hanging over you like the sword of Damocles then you wait with trepidation. But what if you were to cast the care of that "thing" on God. What if you were to believe that He had your back in the circumstance you were not so anxious to deal with? What if you knew that He knew exactly what was going to happen? Do you trust Him? Do you believe He is in control and He loves you? If it's a confrontation of some kind do you know that you ought not plan out the conversation in advance? Do you believe the Bible when it says "open your mouth and God will fill it?"

If you are anything like I am, you may believe all the things written above and still give your mind over to worry and reasoning. When the Bible says, "cast all your care on Him for He cares for you," do you still hesitate? Do you adhere to the principle that God helps those who help themselves? Have you been mislead to believe THAT appears in the Bible?  Well, my friend, take courage and know it is NOT in the Bible at all. That book is all about how God is a shelter in the time of storm, your comforter, your standby. He never says "pull yourself up by your bootstraps", nor "buck up", " keep a stiff upper lip!"

What The Book tells us is this, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper". It also says, "If God is for you who can be against you?" God is not a man that He can lie. If the word "gospel" means "good news" isn't this good news?  God wants to bless you and prosper you. He wants the very best for you. So today if you are at sixes and sevens over something that keeps playing a miserable endless loop of worry in your head, and you are waiting for the other shoe to drop, take this to heart. God loves you and He already is working this out for your good. Encourage yourself. Stir up your faith and believe everything will be okay. That's what I'm doing. Find the cure for your sixes and sevens. God has your back.

Katie

Adventures in Retirement

Well I finally retired in February 2013. I'm still where the eagles soar, have added a feisty puppy I've named Heidi (a rat terrier) to my household and had the chance to really read books on my Kindle which I am enjoying greatly.

Heidi is quite the wild child and when I'm asked to describe her I simply say she's like a Slinky on Speed. Mornings are fun around here now, they start early but not nearly as early as they did at first. She is so excited to see me in the morning she nearly wiggles out of her pelt greeting me. It's nice to have that kind of wake up call and even nicer to see how we have bonded.

Summer brought a visit from my eldest daughter and she, Heidi and I hung out in the a/c because the week she was here was very hot. We did a little road running but not a lot. Thank God for a/c in the car. She brought her Kindle again this year and enjoyed reading for relaxation while I caught up on missed sleep. Having a new puppy can be rather tiring and those wee hours that were wake up time until recently were "killer".

I've mentioned Kindle and reading a couple times so let me just say now for the record, I've grown to love writing reviews of books that really take my fancy. I've done a "beta" read for one author, reviewed several books by M.P. McDonald, and Jessica Tate. Having just become acquainted with Barbara Silkstone's comedy/mystery work I've had the pleasure of reviewing two of her three Wendy Darlin' novels. Laugh out loud funny and great reads. Now working on book three, Cairo Caper. 

You can check out my reviews on Amazon. Since I've retired, writing reviews gives me an opportunity to avoid living like the proverbial lump on a log is good. Reaching out to friends and family on social media and through writing is great therapy for the retirement blues. One gets so used to being identified with what they DID that they run the risk of becoming human "doings" rather than human "beings." My advice to fellow retirees, don't just sit and read the newspaper and books but keep having adventures and reaching out. Live your passion share your wisdom and keep looking up. God wants you to get to know Him better now that you have time to invite Him in to have coffee first thing in the day.  His grace grows daily. And, oh, yes,  SMILE. You are loved!

Katie